Privacy screen

ABSTRACT

A privacy screen for a work station includes a first panel and a second panel. A rail is connected to the first panel. The rail runs along at least a portion of a length of the first panel. A carriage slides along the rail. A hinge connects the carriage and the proximate end of the second panel, thereby permitting the second panel to pivot in relation to the first panel.

FIELD

This specification relates to a privacy screen for a work station or thelike.

INTRODUCTION

Adjustable and modular office systems are often installed in officeenvironments. Such office systems often utilize open-concept workstations. Although open-concept work stations facilitate collaboration,workers in such work stations also desire privacy, at least on occasion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following summary is provided to introduce the reader to the moredetailed discussion to follow. The summary is not intended to limit ordefine the claims.

According to one aspect, a privacy screen for a work station isprovided. The privacy screen comprises a first panel and a second panel.The second panel is connected to the first panel such that the secondpanel is capable of sliding and pivoting in relation to the first panel.

According to another aspect, a privacy screen for a work station isprovided. The privacy screen comprises a first panel and a second panel.A rail is connected to the first panel. The rail runs along at least aportion of a length of the first panel. A carriage is slidably connectedto the rail. A hinge is operatively connected to the carriage and theproximate end of the second panel, thereby permitting the second panelto pivot in relation to the first panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings included herewith are for illustrating various examples ofarticles, methods, and apparatuses of the present specification and arenot intended to limit the scope of what is taught in any way. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a privacy screen, wherethe privacy screen is shown installed between work stations.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1 inisolation.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the privacy screen of FIG. 1

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example carriage and hinge assemblyof the privacy screen of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the carriage shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing an example outer frameand pin assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

Various apparatuses or processes will be described below to provide anexample of each claimed invention. No example described below limits anyclaimed invention and any claimed invention may cover processes orapparatuses that are not described below. The claimed inventions are notlimited to apparatuses or processes having all of the features of anyone apparatus or process described below or to features common tomultiple or all of the apparatuses described below. It is possible thatan apparatus or process described below is not an embodiment of anyclaimed invention. Applicant reserves the right to claim suchapparatuses or processes in other applications.

FIG. 1 shows a group of three works stations 10 a-c, where a privacyscreen 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention separatestwo of the work stations 10 a, 10 b. Each work station has a worksurface 12. Although, for clarity, only one privacy screen 20 and threework stations are illustrated in FIG. 1, those skilled in the art willunderstand that any suitable number of work stations can be provided andany suitable number of privacy screens may be utilized with the workstations.

The privacy screen includes a first panel 22, which is preferablystationary and may be connected to the work surface 12, as described inmore detail below. A second panel 24 is connected to the first panel 22,as described below.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the first panel is preferably supported to twofeet 26 a,b which rest on the floor. The feet 26 a,b are connected tothe bottom of the first panel 22 in any suitable manner, such as byfasteners (not shown). The second panel 24 preferably includes an outerframe which is constructed from two horizontal members 27 a,b and twovertical members 27 c,d, which are secured to the second panel by aninterference fit. A bottom distal corner 28 of the second panel 24 ispreferably supported by a castor 30. The castor is connected to thebottom distal corner in any suitable manner, such as by fasteners (notshown).

According to one embodiment, the first panel 22 may be securable to thework surface 12 of one of the work station 10 b (shown in FIG. 1). Insuch an embodiment, a horizontal notch 32 is provided in a proximate endof the first panel 22. As used herein, “proximate” means the end of thefirst or second panel (as the case may be) which is closest to the workstation 10 b. The location of the notch generally corresponds to theheight of the work surface 12. Two L-shaped brackets 34 a,b are securedin any suitable fashion (such as by fasteners) to an interior face 36and exterior face (not shown) of the first panel 22, respectively. EachL-shaped bracket 34 a,b includes a flange 38 having holes 40. In orderto secure the first panel 22 to the work surface 12, the edge of thework surface is received within the notch such that the flange 38 ofeach bracket 34 a,b rests under the work surface. Fasteners (not shown)are then screwed into the work surface through the holes 40.

In other embodiments, the first panel 22 may not be secured to the worksurface but may simply rest on the floor. In yet other embodiments thefirst panel may be secured to other parts of the workstation in anysuitable fashion.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-5, preferably, a pair or rails 40 a,b areconnected to the inner face 36 of first panel 22. Preferably, the railsare located near the top edge 42 and the bottom edge 44 of the firstpanel 22, respectively. The rails 40 a,b extend along a length dimensionL of the first panel 22 and are secured to the first panel in anysuitable fashion, such as using fasteners. End caps 46 a,b are securedto the ends of each rail 40 a,b (end cap 46 a is shown in FIG. 6).

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, a pair of carriages 50 a,b slide onrails 40 a,b, respectively, where each carriage slides on thecorresponding rail. A hinge assembly 52 a,b connects each correspondingcarriage 50 a,b to the second panel 24. Carriage 50 a will be describedbelow. Carriage 50 b will not be further described, as it is preferablyidentical to carriage 50 a.

Referring now to FIG. 7, carriage 50 a preferably includes a pair ofsliders 60 a,b. Each slider includes a channel 61 which engages the rail40 a. The sliders 60 a,b are secured to a carriage bracket 62 by pairsof fasteners 64 and 66, respectively. A carriage cover 68 conceals thesliders and bracket.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the hinge assembly 52 a includes a barrel 70which is received within an opening 72 in the carriage cover 68, and issecured to the carriage bracket 62 a pair of fasteners 74. The hingeassembly 52 a also includes a pin assembly 80 secured to the secondpanel 24 (shown in FIG. 6). The pin assembly is located in a corner gapbetween horizontal frame member 27 a and vertical frame member 27 d. Thepin assembly includes a leg 82 projecting downwardly from a C-shapedbracket 84. The pin assembly 80 is secured to the vertical frame member27 d by the leg 82 being received in a corresponding slot 86 in thevertical frame member. A top cover 88 covers the C-shaped bracket 84 togive it an esthetically pleasing appearance. The barrel 70 is receivedwithin the C-shaped bracket 84. A pin 90 passes through the barrel 70and holes in the top and bottom portions of the C-shaped bracket 84 topermit the second panel 24 to pivot about the carriage 50 a connected tothe first panel 22.

Preferably, the hinge assembly 52 b is as mirror image of the hingeassembly 52 a and will not be further described or illustrated.

In operation, the position and orientation of the second panel 24 inrelation to the first panel 22 can be controlled by the user. The firstpanel is preferably fixed by securing it to the work surface 12, asdiscussed above. The user simply pulls or pushes the second panel 24 tochange its position or orientation. The castor 30 permits the secondpanel 24 to roll to the desired position. The second panel 24 may bepositioned so that it is parallel to the first panel and does not extendbeyond the first panel 22. The second panel may be positioned parallelto the first panel and extended beyond the first panel to provide alonger privacy screen. The second panel 24 may be extended beyond andpivoted to position the second panel at any suitable angle to the firstpanel 22. One exemplary angled position is shown in FIG. 1. The abilityto slide and pivot the second panel in relation to the first panelprovides the user with increased flexibility in controlling his or herprivacy space.

Accordingly, the privacy screen according to the embodiments of thepresent invention provides an advantage by permitting the user of a workstation to control the private space available for such user's workstation by easily adjusting the position of the panels.

While the above description provides examples of the embodiments, itwill be appreciated that some features and/or functions of the describedembodiments are susceptible to modification without departing from thespirit and principles of operation of the described embodiments.Accordingly, what has been described above has been intended to beillustrative of the invention and non-limiting and it will be understoodby persons skilled in the art that other variants and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined inthe claims appended hereto.

1. A privacy screen for a workstation, the privacy screen comprising: a.a first panel; and b. a second panel pivotably and slidably connected tothe first panel.
 2. The privacy screen of claim 1, wherein the secondpanel is slidable along a length of the first panel.
 3. The privacyscreen of claim 2, wherein the first panel further comprises: a. a railrunning longitudinally along an interior face of the first panel; and b.a carriage slidably connected to the rail; wherein a proximate end ofthe second panel is pivotably connected to the carriage.
 4. The privacyscreen of claim 3 further comprising a hinge connecting the carriage andthe proximate end of the second panel.
 5. The privacy screen of claim 4,wherein the hinge further comprises a barrel connected to the carriageand a pin operatively connected to a proximate edge of the second panel,wherein the pin is received in the barrel, thereby permitting the secondpanel to pivot about the carriage.
 6. The privacy screen of claim 4further comprising a pair of the rails, a pair of the carriages, and apair of the hinges, wherein a first of the pair of rails runs along atop edge of the first panel, and a second of the pair of rails runsalong a bottom edge of the first panel.
 7. The privacy screen of claim5, wherein the second panel comprises a castor connected to a bottomdistal corner of the second panel.
 8. The privacy screen of claim 7,wherein the first panel comprises at least two spaced-apart feetconnected to a bottom edge of the first panel, wherein the feet rest ona building floor.
 9. The privacy screen of claim 6, wherein the secondpanel comprises a rectangular outer frame, wherein the outer framedefines a first gap at a proximal upper corner and a second gap at aproximal lower corner of the outer frame.
 10. The privacy screen ofclaim 9 wherein one of the pair of pins is located in the first gap andan other of the pair of pins is located in the second gap.
 11. Theprivacy screen of claim 10, wherein the outer frame comprises a pair ofvertical members and a pair of horizontal members, wherein the first gapis located between a proximal end of an upper horizontal member and aproximal vertical member, and the second gap is located between aproximal end of a lower horizontal member and the proximal verticalmember.
 12. The privacy screen of claim 11, wherein the pin is part of apin assembly connected to a proximate edge of the second panel, whereinthe pin assembly further comprises a leg connected to a C-shaped bracket13. The privacy screen of claim 13, wherein the leg is secured within aslot in the proximal vertical member.
 14. The privacy screen of claim 5,wherein the carriage further comprises: (i) at least one slider adaptedto slideably engage the rail; and (ii) a carriage bracket connected tothe slider, wherein the barrel is connected to the carriage bracket. 15.The privacy screen of claim 14, wherein a channel is defined in theslider, wherein the channel engages the rail.
 16. The privacy screen ofclaim 15, wherein the carriage comprises a spaced apart pair of thesliders.
 17. The privacy screen of claim 8, wherein the first panel issecurable to a work surface of the work station.
 18. The privacy screenof claim 17, wherein a generally horizontal notch is defined in aproximate end of the first panel, the notch being adapted to receive adistal portion of the work surface.
 19. The privacy screen of claim 18,further comprising a first bracket secured to an interior face of thefirst panel, and a second bracket secured to an exterior face of thefirst panel, wherein each bracket comprises a flange extending generallyhorizontally away the first panel, wherein the flange is located belowthe notch, wherein the flange of each of the first and second bracket issecured to the bottom of the work surface by fasteners.
 20. A privacyscreen for a workstation, the privacy screen comprising: a. a firstpanel; b. a rail connected to the first panel, the rail running along atleast a portion of a length of the first panel; c. a carriage slidablyconnected to the rail; d. a second panel; and e. a hinge operativelyconnected to the carriage and the proximate end of the second panel,thereby permitting the second panel to pivot in relation to the firstpanel.